‘Pre-clearance’ levy
modeled on US scheme as Brussels boosts border security.
Privileged travelers from the countries enjoying visa-free
travel in the Schengen Zone, including Britain, have to pay a 5€ fee for
‘pre-clearance’ to be able to enter within the bloc’s border, as a part of the
undertaken measures to increase border security.
Under the European Commission’s proposal, which will still
have to be unveiled on Wednesday, entering the zone with a visa-waiver passport
will have to be vetted as part of a new EU Travel Information and Authorization
System otherwise known as ETIAS.
Among the range of measures launched in Brussels that aim to
tighten border security after the terror attacks across the EU as well as entry
of migrants during the last year, 2015.
This specific scheme, is based on the US’ ESTA system, will
cover the 30m people entering the EU every year from any of the 60 visa-waiver
county, including Australia, Canada, the US and New Zealand. This list may also
soon include Georgia and Ukraine – countries still in the process of approval.
It is yet unknown whether the Britons will have to pay too –
all depending on the visa system the UK will negotiate with the EU, right after
it leaves the bloc. If UK citizens get a visa-waiver, Britain will fall under
the ETIAS scheme.
“ETIAS will be followed for all current and future visa-free
third countries. No country or region is singled out,” said Dimitris
Avramopoulos, the one commissioner responsible for home affairs.
As per the ESTIA plan, anyone entering the EU from a
visa-waiver country would have to run their details against the database,
including details of the international police organization Europol and
Interpol, as well as the Schengen Information System, which security agencies
use to monitor border entry. If granted the permission to enter the zone, it
would only last for five years in comparison with two years granted through the
US ESTA system.
As far as the citizens from non-Schengen EU member states,
such as Ireland and Denmark, paying the fee to travel freely within the bloc is
not required.
European Commission officials have estimated that the scheme
cost would be around €230m to be introduced. If approved quickly by the EU
member states and the European Parliament, the system could be up and running
by 2020.
The €5 fee is lower than expected and all under-18s would not
face any charges. Press reports in places such as the countries of former
Yugoslavia suggested a levy as high as €50, which sparked fears that the EU is
trying to reduce travel from the region by making it as expensive.
Before travelling, all airlines, ferries and bus companies
are expected to make sure that the passengers have the correct documentation.
Many EU countries have introduced strict ‘carrier liability’ laws since the
migration crisis, leaving travel operators to face big fines if they fail to do
so.
“In an era of increased mobility in the face of continuous
security threats, the objective of this automatic system is to provide an
additional security check while also ensuring an easy and fluid entry into the
Schengen area of visa-free travelling at the same time” added Mr. Avramopoulos .
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